| Once a Thief | |
|---|---|
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | W. Lee Wilder |
| Screenplay by | Richard S. Conway |
| Story by | Max Colpet and Hans Wilhelm |
| Produced by | W. Lee Wilder William Stephens |
| Starring | Cesar Romero June Havoc Marie McDonald Lon Chaney Jr. |
| Cinematography | William H. Clothier |
| Edited by | Asa Boyd Clark |
| Music by | Michel Michelet |
Production company | W. Lee Wilder Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
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Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Once a Thief is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by W. Lee Wilder starring Cesar Romero, June Havoc, Marie McDonald and Lon Chaney Jr. [1]
Margie Moore, a miserable San Francisco woman, turns in desperation to jewel robbery. She narrowly escapes apprehension in a heist and moves to Los Angeles, where she takes an honest job as a waitress. Her troubles resume when she falls in love with smooth-talking Mitch Foster, who reveals his true colors by stealing all of her money and then informing the authorities about her.
In prison with her partner-in-crime Pearl, Margie is visited by Mitch and waitress friend Flo. Mitch continues to try to extract money from her. Margie overpowers a doctor and slips away from prison disguised in the doctor's clothes. Law-enforcement authorities look for her at Mitch's and discover his illegal activities there. Mitch tries to escape, but Margie lures him to a deserted spot and shoots him.